Flagler Pier restaurant opening pushed to 'mid-December'

Published: Monday, November 26, 2012 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 26, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.

FLAGLER BEACH — The long-awaited opening of the new Flagler Beach Pier restaurant finally may be on the horizon. The restaurant, which has been closed for renovations since spring, may be ready to serve diners by the end of December.

Over the next two weeks, contractors will finish interior work, including installing furniture and lighting, architect Joseph Pozzuoli said Monday. The structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work is complete, he said.

"Mid-December would be the soonest, but I am anticipating an opening before Christmas," Pozzuoli said, adding that, "We all see light at the end of the tunnel."

Owner Ray Barshay inked a deal with the city to operate a restaurant called the Funky Pelican in the space after nearly two years of negotiations. Barshay owns other restaurants in the area, including River Grille on the Tomoka River in Ormond Beach. He explained the delay as "just doing the job the right way and getting things done."

Barshay initially said he could open by the end of the summer, then pushed back that date to late October. The restaurant, which was built in about 1964, needed some major structural repairs that added about two months to the project during the spring and summer months.

Hurricane Sandy ripped two pilings from the pier and shingles from the A-frame as it passed off the coast last month but the damage did not affect work on the restaurant, Pozzuoli said.

"Everything just seems to take a little longer than you anticipate," he said, adding that "some of the design decisions were being made along the way."

Commissioners say they're disappointed the restaurant isn't open yet but they're hopeful the new eatery will be a star attraction.

"It's taken longer than it should have," Commissioner Joy McGrew said. "I know he (Barshay) had a tremendous amount of work because of our city's neglect."

City leaders "really haven't taken care of it the way we should have" and, as a result, Barshay had to do extensive electrical and structural work, redo the restrooms and add a sprinkler system, she said. He also added an ocean-facing deck so diners can feel the breeze while they eat.

"It's going to be worth it in the long run — it just seems like it's taking forever," McGrew said.

Barshay was initially slated to start paying rent in April, but commissioners agreed over the summer to push back Barshay's first rental payment to Oct. 1 in exchange for reducing the amount Barshay is able to recoup from the city for repairs by $5,000. He'll also pay a portion of his gross sales exceeding $1 million to the city.

"It was a hard job cutting the contract with Mr. Barshay and getting the show on the road but now that it's done, I think everybody expects we're going to get what we bargained for," Commission Vice Chairman Steve Settle said.

There was a job fair Nov. 16 and 17, according to an ad in The News-Journal's classified ads section. Barshay said he's in the midst of hiring about 75 full-time and part-time employees.

"We're still looking for good people," he said.

Settle said he hasn't been inside the restaurant recently but he's pleased with how the outside looks.

"From what I've seen so far, it looks like they're doing a pretty good job," he said. "There was obviously a lot of work that had to be done and it looks like what we're getting is a first-class product that the city of Flagler Beach can be very proud of."

<p>FLAGLER BEACH &mdash; The long-awaited opening of the new Flagler Beach Pier restaurant finally may be on the horizon. The restaurant, which has been closed for renovations since spring, may be ready to serve diners by the end of December. </p><p>Over the next two weeks, contractors will finish interior work, including installing furniture and lighting, architect Joseph Pozzuoli said Monday. The structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work is complete, he said. </p><p>"Mid-December would be the soonest, but I am anticipating an opening before Christmas," Pozzuoli said, adding that, "We all see light at the end of the tunnel." </p><p>Owner Ray Barshay inked a deal with the city to operate a restaurant called the Funky Pelican in the space after nearly two years of negotiations. Barshay owns other restaurants in the area, including River Grille on the Tomoka River in Ormond Beach. He explained the delay as "just doing the job the right way and getting things done." </p><p>Barshay initially said he could open by the end of the summer, then pushed back that date to late October. The restaurant, which was built in about 1964, needed some major structural repairs that added about two months to the project during the spring and summer months. </p><p>Hurricane Sandy ripped two pilings from the pier and shingles from the A-frame as it passed off the coast last month but the damage did not affect work on the restaurant, Pozzuoli said. </p><p>"Everything just seems to take a little longer than you anticipate," he said, adding that "some of the design decisions were being made along the way." </p><p>Commissioners say they're disappointed the restaurant isn't open yet but they're hopeful the new eatery will be a star attraction. </p><p>"It's taken longer than it should have," Commissioner Joy McGrew said. "I know he (Barshay) had a tremendous amount of work because of our city's neglect." </p><p>City leaders "really haven't taken care of it the way we should have" and, as a result, Barshay had to do extensive electrical and structural work, redo the restrooms and add a sprinkler system, she said. He also added an ocean-facing deck so diners can feel the breeze while they eat. </p><p>"It's going to be worth it in the long run &mdash; it just seems like it's taking forever," McGrew said. </p><p>Barshay was initially slated to start paying rent in April, but commissioners agreed over the summer to push back Barshay's first rental payment to Oct. 1 in exchange for reducing the amount Barshay is able to recoup from the city for repairs by $5,000. He'll also pay a portion of his gross sales exceeding $1 million to the city. </p><p>"It was a hard job cutting the contract with Mr. Barshay and getting the show on the road but now that it's done, I think everybody expects we're going to get what we bargained for," Commission Vice Chairman Steve Settle said. </p><p>There was a job fair Nov. 16 and 17, according to an ad in The News-Journal's classified ads section. Barshay said he's in the midst of hiring about 75 full-time and part-time employees. </p><p>"We're still looking for good people," he said. </p><p>Settle said he hasn't been inside the restaurant recently but he's pleased with how the outside looks. </p><p>"From what I've seen so far, it looks like they're doing a pretty good job," he said. "There was obviously a lot of work that had to be done and it looks like what we're getting is a first-class product that the city of Flagler Beach can be very proud of."</p>